Last week, Oregon’s Early Learning Division announced their Preschool Promise award recommendations. The announcement marks an important step in the state’s process to increase publicly funded preschool opportunities for low-income children in Oregon. Preschool Promise, or House Bill 3380, was passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2015 with the goal of providing high-quality preschool in a variety of settings. Preschool Promise expands the types and number of providers that can receive funding for high-quality preschool programs in the state, and increases the number of families and children that are able to access the services. Early Learning Division staff estimate that the implementation of Preschool Promise will mean that approximately 1,300 more Oregon children will receive high-quality preschool in the 2016-2017 school year.
Gwyn Bachtle, an Early Learning Specialist in the Early Learning Division described the visionary goal of the new program as, “having children in programs that are quality-rated…and really working to increase the capacity of our communities.”
An award team, composed of state executive staff and three Early Learning Council members, reviewed applications from Early Learning hubs around the state. The hubs will be responsible for contracting with local providers and implementing the new preschool programming in their communities. Applications were evaluated based on demonstrated need; the capacity to support a mixed-delivery model; and the capacity to support high-quality preschool programs.
In total, ten hubs submitted a total of seven applications (one application was a joint application including multiple hubs) – with their combined requests reflecting the preschool needs of more than 2,600 children. Five of the seven applications were approved for funding, and these hubs will be working with the Early Learning Division closely in the upcoming weeks and months – gaining technical assistance and finalizing contracts with providers.
Awardees of 2016-17 Preschool Promise funding
- Marion and Polk Early Learning Hub:
- South-Central Oregon Early Learning Hub
- Lane Early Learning Alliance
- Southern Oregon Early Learning Hub
- NW Regional Joint Application
- NW Regional Early Learning Hub
- Early Learning Washington County
- Early Learning Multnomah
- Clackamas Early Learning Hub
The Preschool Promise announcement is, as Molly Day, Early Learning Multnomah Director says, “a big deal. The state is deciding to invest in preschool, for its residents who are furthest from opportunity. Families in poverty, families that aren’t being served now…it is a lot of change all at once, and that makes it challenging, but it is a wonderful opportunity.”
“We hope this is just the beginning,” says Dana Hepper, Children’s Institute Director of Policy and Program. “There are many disadvantaged Oregon children who still lack access to high-quality preschool.” In fact, three-quarters of Oregon’s young children still don’t have access.
“The Children’s Institute is supporting the state to ensure successful implementation of Preschool Promise,” Hepper says. “We look forward to seeing the program grow.”